What We Have Done. 45 



To obtain these results I worked myself less than one-third of the 

 time on the farm, and for that I charged $400 in figuring the 

 fifteen per cent, profit, and also charged for all labor done by the 

 family, at fair prices. During four months of the time I did no 

 work whatever on the farm, except to sow the clover seed. Dur- 

 ing the eight months, at least half the time, probably more, was 

 spent in writing and recreation. 



Instead of a run-down, wretched -looking farm, we have a 

 little garden of Eden, as it seems to us, almost in perfect condi- 

 tion ; so it is a pleasure to care for it. We have as fine a lawn 

 about house and barn as any one need ask for, with plenty of 

 trees and shrubs and flowers. But I think I will have to give 

 you a plan of the house, and talk to you more about the conven- 

 iences and surroundings in another chapter, which we will call the 

 farmer's home. We had to wait so long for a new home that we 

 had plenty of time to plan it all out, and we think we have it 

 about perfect, for our family and locality. A number of visitors 

 have taken plans and built just such a house. 



Not a word has been said yet about the greatest thing of all 

 that we have done. Money is good and new buildings and furni- 

 ture and fine tools and carriages, etc., but of what use are they if 

 one has to work like a slave early and late, with almost no time 

 to enjoy them ? A friend who has been following my plan some- 

 what lately, but who used to keep dairy and do everything else, 

 just as I started, wrote me not long ago that he had time now to 

 renew his acquaintance with his wife, and he enjoyed it hugely. 

 We have to work now, and work hard oftentimes, but it is far 

 from the never-ending toil of our mixed farming days. We have 

 the satisfaction now of doing the best we can, generally, and have 

 a breathing spell now and then. Few business men can have as 

 much time for enjoyment and recreation as we do. 



But you will hardly understand this fully until I tell you the 

 rest of the story. As we gradually worked into our special farm- 

 ing, we also worked out of some things, little by little and very 

 carefully, as the pencil showed it paid, and without any regard to 

 what folks said. Oh, yes ! they called me a crank, often. But 

 that is nothing. What is a crank ? Why, one who thinks out 

 new ways for himself who gets out of the old beaten track a 

 little. Nothing very bad about that ! It was just what I was, 

 anyway. I think the first crop we dropped as not paying us was 

 oats. Then, when I got to garden farming, the chickens had to 

 go. We simply can not afford to have them around on our farm 

 and in barn and tool house and covered barnyard. They might 

 be kept shut up, but we can make money easier and faster in our 

 regular line. The poultry business is all right for some, but not 

 for us. We can do better. But I hear some one say, " I want 

 my fresh eggs and chickens to eat." Possibly we have more 

 than any farmer in town who keeps hens ! Then we gave up the 



